Cryptocoryne ciliata var. ciliata

Plant Name: Cryptocoryne ciliata var. ciliata

Tankquility Catalogue #: TQ-01424

Synonyms/Trade Names:

Original Plant Sourced as: Cryptocoryne ciliata

Plant Family: Araceae

Plant Native to¹: Bangladesh, Borneo, India, Jawa, Malaya, Maluku, Myanmar, New Guinea, Nicobar Is., Sulawesi, Sumatera, Thailand, Vietnam

Plant Type: Semiaquatic

Image Details²:

Image 1: Emerse greenhouse grown plant of Cryptocoryne ciliata var. ciliata with an inflorescence.

Image 2: Closer view of the spathe of the inflorescence in image 1, showing tube and limb.

Image 3: Detail of the limb of the spathe, showing long cilia along its margin.

Image 4: Creeping stolon of Cryptocoryne ciliata var. ciliata.

General Information and Cultivation³: A large-size crypt, in nature tolerating brackish water in the tidal zone. It produces long stolons that creep over the substrate surface, rooting at each node. Tankquility has not grown this clone submerse, though Jacobsen (2006) observed a stand of var. ciliata living permanently submerse in a river in Thailand. This plant would make a nice addition as an emergent in an aquarium or paludarium.

 Cryptocoryne ciliata var. ciliata is adaptable to water (soft to medium-hard) and substrate (slightly acid to near-neutral) conditions.

Growing this crypt emerse is straightforward, as it tolerates lower humidity and higher light intensity than most other crypts. It has been observed in open positions receiving direct sunlight (Jacobsen et al. 2018).

Identification Notes: Tankquility has flowered this clone, and together with leaf blade measurements and the presence of long stolons, confirmed its identity as the variety ciliata, belonging to the species Cryptocoryne ciliata.

Ease of Care: Easy

Plant Size/Portion Size:

Emerse grown plant: Small to medium-size plant with strong root development.

Further Reading:

Jacobsen, N. (2006). Tha Pom Klong Song Nam - a wonderful locality for Cryptocoryne ciliata in south Thailand. The Aquatic Gardener 19 (2): 30-38.

Jacobsen, N., Bastmeijer, J.D., Jensen, K.R. & Ørgaard, M. (2018). A new tetraploid variety of Cryptocoryne ciliata (Araceae) from Sarawak. Willdenowia 48: 425-431.

¹ Distribution is taken from Plants of the World Online (https://powo.science.kew.org/) unless stated otherwise.

² All images used on the Tankquility website have been taken of plants growing in our nursery.

³ The general and cultural information provided is based on our own experience and observation. If we supply information from others, we have acknowledged the source.